Summer Collegiate

Walk-off Win an Instant Classic at Serauxmen

Published

5 months ago

June 28, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

NANAIMO, B.C. — It took a walkoff in the ninth to overshadow the De-show.

On a night when Deshon Thomas was 4-4 and threw out the potential winning run at the plate to end the top of the ninth inning at historic Serauxmen Stadium, it was a double by Nevan Noonan and a run-scoring single by Aaron Marsh that stole the headline — in a team sport, that really doesn’t matter.

The Nanaimo NightOwls prevailed 4-3 in walkoff fashion over the visiting Kamloops NorthPaws on Thursday night, securing the series win for Nanaimo, now 9-12 on the season. Nanaimo had won the first game handily, with Kamloops breaking a 14-game losing streak with a win on Wednesday.

Thomas, the Arizona Christian right-handed hitter playing left field, had three singles and a double, raising his batting average to .258. He also scored a run.

Noonan, thanks in part to his leadoff double in the top of the ninth, was 2-4 with a run, and Wylie Waters drove in two runs — a home run in the first inning, two batters after Riley Paulino had tripled to open the bottom of the first, that helped the NightOwls lead 3-0 by the fourth inning, a lead they milked until the fourth inning. Marsh, who played second base, was 2-5 with an RBI and run scored, and his single was a solid line drive into the left-centre gap, easily scoring his middle-infield partner Noonan.

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Kamloops (4-16) was held without a run until the ninth inning when they pushed three across to set up the dramatic bottom of the ninth. Ryan Inouye gave up three hits and was relieved by Hayden Cuthbertson, who held the damage to the three runs — thanks in part to the throw by Thomas, on the mark to catcher Ayden Hadley to cut down the possible go-ahead run.

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Aiden Russell was strong in his start, going three innings, striking out six ,walking two and giving up four hits — but no runs. Payton Robertson was spotless in three innings, giving up three hits and a walk, followed by two perfect innings from Lawson Minshew.

The NightOwls now get a rare Friday day off, then are home at Serauxmen Stadium on Saturday against the arch-rival Victoria HarbourCats, the seventh game of the RE/MAX Alex Burns Real Estate Island Cup. The two teams play Sunday in Victoria at Wilson’s Group Stadium at RAP, a fireworks night in Victoria, and then revert to Nanaimo on Monday for Canada Day, July 1, and the first-ever on-field post-game FIREWORKS show presented by Kw’umut Lelum Foundation and Maxxam Insurance.

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Summer Collegiate

NightOwls bring back all-star starter Mattix

Published

4 hours ago

December 4, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

One of the best pitchers in the West Coast League is returning to The Nest.

All-star Adison Mattix will be back for a third season with the Nanaimo NightOwls. The right-hander from Everett CC made a team-high 10 starts in 2024 and was the only player from the NWAC college baseball conference to be named to the WCL all-star game, where he helped the North Division to victory.

The happiest person with this news is legendary NightOwls pitching coach Gorm Heimueller — and Heimueller’s presence on the staff of new head coach Cody Andreychuk is a major reason Mattix will be spending a third summer with the program in Nanaimo.

Mattix, a power right-hander at 6-4/200, was 1-2 with a 3.04 ERA and 48 strikeouts in 41.1 innings in 2024. He gave up just 30 hits and two doubles. He was a reliever, making nine appearances, in 2023, striking out 15 batters in 16 innings.

The highlight start in 2024 was an 11-strikeout effort over six innings in a 8-1 home win vs. Kamloops on June 25, that made him the league leader in strikeouts at that point. He gave up three hits and no walks or runs.

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Summer Collegiate

Local players and returning talent set for 2025 NightOwls duty

Published

1 week ago

November 27, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

Five names, all familiar to local baseball fans.

Head Coach Cody Andreychuk, a local product entering his first year at the helm of the Nanaimo NightOwls, is pleased to announce the signing of five players for the 2025 duty. Three are returnees from the 2024 squad, two are Mid-Island Pirates graduates.

All five players are at the junior college level, with previous announcements featuring mostly NCAA D1 scholarship athletes.

Nonomiya, from Japan but whose mom is Pakistani, recently was the starting pitcher and hit a home run for Pakistan to win the final of the Arabic region tournament. In the summer of 2024, he made seven appearances as a pitcher — three of those as the starter.

Florence, as a graduating high school player, saw action in 25 games last summer and drove in seven runs, playing strong defence. Known for his big arm from the left side of the infield, and an instinctual baserunner, he was an offensive catalyst in high school and has carried that to Scottsdale.

Carmichael, a Swiss Army Knife for the NightOwls in 2024, is being used primarily as a right-handed reliever at ELAC this season, but can still play nearly every position and run the bases, providing a hard-throwing bullpen option for pitching coach Gorm Heimueller, and giving Andreychuk the ability to make moves in the last half of the game. Carmichael has the nickname ‘Cowboy’ because he has competed in junior NFR events — and is a real glue guy with teammates. Carmichael made five pitching appearances in 2024, and batted .195 with a couple of doubles and three stolen bases in limited action.

Cathers spent time with the Canadian national junior team and the power hitting outfielder has made a good first impression at Cloud County.

Laukkanen, whose brother Josh was on the inaugural NightOwls team in 2022, was with the NightOwls for a few days in 2024 prior to setting foot on a college campus. Lucas left the team to stay at a lower level with less competition for playing time. Lucas has plans on being starting shortstop this spring at Cloud County.

Both Cathers and Laukkanen played in the Futures Showcase put on by the Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto.

Season tickets and 10pks are available now by emailing GM Tina Cornett, tina@nanaimonightowls.com, and tickets and merchandise make great Christmas gifts — nanaimonightowls.com to find the Team Shop.

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Summer Collegiate

Victoria HarbourCats – VISL, HarbourCats, NightOwls enter strategic partnership

Published

2 weeks ago

November 22, 2024

Dugout Wire Service

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

November 21, 2024

VICTORIA, B.C. — Different sports, but the same community ideals.

The Victoria HarbourCats and Nanaimo NightOwls, of baseball’s West Coast League, and the Vancouver Island Soccer League (VISL), have entered into a strategic partnership intended to assist the entities in growing grassroots sports and improving facilities on Vancouver Island.

The VISL provides programming and championships on the Island and leads leagues which give the best soccer players an avenue to play the sport for life. Championships such as the Jackson Cup, with many finals played at Royal Athletic Park in Victoria, serve as the crown jewel of the VISL.

More than 6,000 participants are involved with the VISL — sports fans, who will keep track of the Island’s top baseball programs, the HarbourCats and NightOwls, who combined to draw more than 100,000 spectators in 2024.

The baseball teams and VISL will jointly promote each others’ schedules, and provide opportunities for youth participation.

“The atmosphere at HarbourCats and NightOwls games showcase the top fan engagement on the Island, a true gathering point in our communities,” said VISL Executive Director Vince Greco.

“Baseball fans are soccer fans, and soccer fans are baseball fans — it’s about supporting quality programs on the island and furthering awareness. Adding youth opportunities between the two will be the cherry on top.”

Watch for VISL events to recognize the work of the HarbourCats and NightOwls, and feature baseball games to celebrate the success of the VISL.

For more information on the VISL and their programs and offerings, please visit their website HERE.

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The HarbourCats 2025 schedule has now been announced! DETAILS HERE

Single-game tickets and 10-game flex pack voucher renewals are NOT YET AVAILABLE, but will be once the ticketing system is set up for the 2025 season. We will announce this when ready!

Season tickets and 10- game flex packs ARE available for sale by dropping in to the office at 101-1814 Vancouver Street or calling 778-265-0327.

Existing Season Ticket holders are encouraged, if they have not already done so, to renew their seats as soon as possible so as to lock in their seats for what is going to be another great season of HarbourCats Baseball.

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